Most pharmaceutical companies run programs aimed to facilitate the accessibility to needed medications for patient who are in financial difficulties and are not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. These programs have different requirements and require the physician to register the patient. Programs are evolving rapidly, so I enjoin you to consult the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) web site (www.phrma.org) for an updated and complete Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs. You may call the company that makes the drug you need assistance on and inquire about the procedure necessary in your case. In addition, the Ida & Joseph Friend Cancer Resource Center at UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center provides the Ask The Pharmacist: Free Drop-in Consultation with Zoe Ngo, PharmD. For more information, contact 415.885.3693

SAFETY NET ® Program for NEUPOGEN®
Products covered by program: NEUPOGEN® ( Filgrastim ) Program is designed to assist those patients who are medically indigent (patients may be uninsured or underinsured). Eligibility is based on patient's insurance status and income level. To enroll a patient, providers should contact the Amgen SAFETY NET® Program by calling (800) 272-9376.
Aranesp®, Neulasta®,EPOGEN®Sensipar®Enbrel®Kepivance®,Kineret®

Eligibility to be determined solely by BIPI. Patient must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident ineligible for prescription drug assistance through Medicaid or private insurance. Patient must meet established financial criteria.

Other Information:
All requests are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis. Application form, prescription, and patient's income documentation are required. Maximum of three-month supply may be provided per request. Complete financial re-application is required annually. Renewal requests within the same year require only the application form and a prescription. Program is subject to change without notice. Current program specifics can be obtained by calling (800) 556-8317 or by contacting www.RxHope.com or www.helpingpatients.org.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Program
Products covered by program: Many Bristol-Myers Squibb pharmaceutical products Physician requests should be directed to
Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Program P.O. Box 4500 Princeton, New Jersey 08543-2500 Mailcode P25-31 (800) 332-2056; (609) 897-6859 (fax)
Eligibility: This program is designed to provide temporary assistance to patients with a financial hardship who are not eligible for prescription drug coverage through Medicaid or any other public or private health program.

DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company Patient Assistance Program
Products covered by program: All marketed non-controlled prescription Physician requests should be directed to Michelle Paoli, Du Pont Merck Pharmaceutical Company
PO Box 80723 Wilmington, Delaware 19880-0723 (800) 474-2762
Eligibility is based on the patient's insurance status and income level/assets. Patients should have exhausted all third-party insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and all other available programs

Glaxo Wellcome Patient Assistance Program
Products covered by program: All marketed Glaxo Wellcome prescription products Physician requests should be directed to Glaxo Wellcome Inc. Patient Assistance Program PO Box 52185 Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2185 1-866.728.4368, (800) 750-9832 (fax) Additional Program Information Can be found at Helix.com www.Helix.com Eligibility: Glaxo Wellcome is dedicated to assuring that no one is denied access to our marketed prescription products as a result of their inability to pay.

The Merck Patient Assistance Program
Products covered by program: Most Merck products. Requests for vaccines and injectables are not accepted, with the exception of requests for anti-cancer injectable products. Physician requests should be directed to The Merck Patient Assistance Program -- Health care professionals with prescribing privileges may call (800) 994-2111